Good bye 2013

I have to admit, you really won't be missed.  Not to say the year was totally bad but it seemed to have more than its fair share of suckage.  I didn't have any cabbage New Years Day so I blame myself for the crappy year.  Won't make that mistake again.

So, on to 2014.

This is where a lot of people pen their new year's resolutions.  Not me.  I gave up doing that a long time ago.  That doesn't mean I don't have goals.  My goal for 2014 is to complete a goal I started a couple years ago.  My Fit by 50 (Fx50) goal comes to an end in 2014.  September 21, 2014 to be exact.  This is largely a weight-loss goal based in a desire to simply be healthier.  I've never said how much weight I wanted to lose before but now seems like a good time as any for a couple reasons.

1. I need to change my focus from being embarrassed by what I weighed to being proud of how far I've come and looking toward the end goal.
2. I'm at a point where I need a cheering section and people to help me stayed focused.  I'm at the point I've always failed before and that's a huge mental stumbling block to get past.

My goal was to lose 150 pounds.  I've lost 80 of them so I'm a little more than half way there. 

Instead of resolutions for the new year I'm planning my strategy for reaching my goal.

• I need to refocus on how much I'm eating.  Kinda lost that over the last 3 months which I'm sure is part of why I'm stalled out on the weight-loss front.
• I need to start adding some exercise into my life, even if its just going for walks on a regular basis.  I'm still contemplating trying the Couch to 5K program again.  I think adding the exercise will help me get past this wall I'm up against now.

So there you have it.  Hello 2014.  I'm glad you're here.

A Cornucopia of Consciousness........aka a brain dump of drivel

Lots of little things running around in my head right now.

I'm having a hard time breaking past the 80lbs point with the weight loss.  Wondering how much of that is mind games though.  I'm in the 20 pound range that always seems to be the point I quit/give up/stop losing.  Or am I at the point where just eating less isn't enough.  Maybe my body is telling me it's time to start adding in some exercise.  I'm toying with the idea of trying the C25K program again.  My knees gave out on me at the fourth week last time I tried but I also weighted at least 40 pounds more then.  All I know for sure is the weight I'm at now always seems to be my Waterloo.  I'm determined to change that this time.

It has really bothered me to see the hateful comments directed toward Nelson Mandela this last week.  I understand he was a polarizing figure.  Everyone has their opinion about him...hero or villain...and there's nothing wrong with that.  I guess I just think someone's death isn't the time to be hateful.  Regardless of what you thought about the man politically he still left behind family and friends who loved him and are hurting right now.  Just doesn't seem like the appropriate time to bash someone.

Seeing a lot of anti-Salvation Army going on right now because of their stance on gays.  If you don't like their beliefs, don't donate to them.  It's that simple.  But really, is a FB smear campaign necessary?  They're a religious organization who is upfront about their religious beliefs.  Is their position on gays really all that surprising?  At least they're out there trying to help people...all people, even those who's sexual orientation they don't believe in.  I don't see any other church standing out in the cold for hours on end trying to help the way they do.

On the up side, seeing a lot less of the whole "Happy Holidays/Merry Christmas" nonsense this year.

This Saturday is the Army/Navy game.  So I expect everyone to put on blue and gold and cheer Navy on to another victory.  And thus is the only sporting event you will ever hear me express any interest in.

Speaking of sports though, I'm really tired of hearing about the Redskins and whatever the soap opera drama is they have going on.  With the money they are all making they have nothing to create drama about.  Seriously, get over yourselves.

Which leads to a closing thought.  Step outside of yourself this month and do something for someone else.  A random act of kindness may be the only present someone gets this month.